J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2013 Jan;54(1):104-111. 10.3341/jkos.2013.54.1.104.

Comparison of Serum Homocysteine, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6 and Folate Levels in Different Glaucoma Types

• Choo BJ
• Hwang YH
• Lee JH
• Kim TJ

• KMID: 2216457
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2013.54.1.104

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the levels of serum homocysteine, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate in patients with normal-tension glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and high-tension glaucoma.
METHODS
Thirty-two healthy subjects, 35 patients with normal-tension glaucoma, 22 patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and 31 patients with high-tension glaucoma were included in the present study. Fasting venous samples were collected from all the participants. The levels of serum homocysteine, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate were measured. One-way analysis of variance was used for the comparison of homocysteine, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate levels among the 4 groups.
RESULTS
The mean homocysteine levels in the pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and high-tension glaucoma group were 17.91 +/- 5.11 and 17.60 +/- 3.89 micromol/l, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the control group (p = 0.014, p = 0.013, respectively). The mean vitamin B6 levels in the pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and high-tension glaucoma group were 17.67 +/- 14.32 and 17.00 +/- 10.58 nmol/l, respectively, which were significantly lower than that of the control group (p = 0.026, p = 0.008, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Hyperhomocysteinemia may play a role as a risk factor in the development or progression of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and high-tension glaucoma.

Keyword

High-tension glaucoma; Homocysteine; Normal-tension glaucoma; Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma; Vitamin B6

MeSH Terms

Fasting
Folic Acid*
Glaucoma*
Homocysteine*
Humans
Hyperhomocysteinemia
Risk Factors
Vitamin B 12*
Vitamin B 6*
Folic Acid
Homocysteine
Vitamin B 12
Vitamin B 6

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. Distribution of serum homocysteine (A), vitamin B12 (B), vitamin B6 (C) and folate (D) levels in control, normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) and high-tension glaucoma groups. Black squares indicate the mean values; vertical bars indicate the 95% confidence intervals.

• 

  Figure 2. Pathways of homocysteine metabolism involving vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate.

Reference

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